Article
Environmental Sciences
Xing Li, Y. Jun Xu, Maofei Ni, Chunlin Wang, Siyue Li
Summary: This study reveals the spatio-temporal variations of nitrate sources and transformations in a mixed land use/land cover catchment. It suggests that point sources dominate nitrate in the summer and winter, while non-point sources dominate in the spring and autumn. The increase in urban areas leads to an increase in nitrate concentrations from domestic sewage, and both urban and agricultural inputs should be considered in nitrate pollution management.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ling Ding, Xinglei Wang, Zhuozhi Ouyang, Yanhua Chen, Xuexia Wang, Dongsheng Liu, Shasha Liu, Xiaomei Yang, Hanzhong Jia, Xuetao Guo
Summary: The investigation revealed a relatively high abundance of microplastics in Mu Us Sand Land soils, with the woodland area showing a higher concentration of microplastics in the size range of 0 to 0.50 mm. Different tree species exhibited variations in microplastic accumulation, and the abundance of microplastics decreased with increasing restoration years.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexandra Gemitzi, Reyadh Albarakat, Foteini Kratouna, Venkat Lakshmi
Summary: Evaluation of carbon sequestration in various land cover types is crucial for environmental policies targeting CO2 emissions reduction. This study focused on land cover changes in Greece, highlighting the importance of forests as carbon sinks and the impact of economic crisis on certain land cover types and vegetation carbon stocks.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Baohui Mu, Xiang Zhao, Donghai Wu, Xinyan Wang, Jiacheng Zhao, Haoyu Wang, Qian Zhou, Xiaozheng Du, Naijing Liu
Summary: This study analyzed the vegetation cover change trends in China from 2001 to 2018 and found that CO2, climate-related factors, and land cover change played significant roles in driving these changes. CO2 was identified as the primary driving factor for vegetation cover changes, indicating its importance in vegetation growth research.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gregory Duveiller, Federico Filipponi, Andrej Ceglar, Jedrzej Bojanowski, Ramdane Alkama, Alessandro Cescatti
Summary: Forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon, but they can also impact the climate system by altering cloud cover. Research suggests that afforestation generally increases low cloud cover, leading to cooling effects on the planet, with the extent of this effect varying based on forest type, such as needleleaf forests in Europe generating more clouds.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fausto Machado-Silva, Vinicius Neres-Lima, Andrea Franco Oliveira, Timothy Peter Moulton
Summary: Deforestation has negative impacts on the ecological integrity of rivers and streams, causing threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services worldwide. This study examines the effects of forest cover changes on tropical streams using stable isotopic ratios. The results show significant variations in isotopic ratios and highlight the importance of using stable isotopes to monitor and assess the impacts of deforestation on stream ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thanh Thi Nguyen, Nacer Aderdour, Hassan Rhinane, Andreas Buerkert
Summary: Since the 1990s, Morocco's agriculture has seen the co-existence and transformation of modern and traditional smallholder systems. The effects of rural-urban transformation in the Atlas Mountains have led to changes in land use and land cover (LULC), vegetation structure and dynamics. A comparison of the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification approach and a seasonal rules-based approach revealed limitations in detecting vegetation reflectance in semi-arid mountainous regions.
Article
Agronomy
Vilim Filipovic, Jasmina Defterdarovic, Vedran Krevh, Lana Filipovic, Gabrijel Ondrasek, Filip Kranjcec, Ivan Magdic, Vedran Rubinic, Sanja Stipicevic, Ivan Mustac, Marina Bubalo Kovacic, Hailong He, Amir Haghverdi, Horst H. Gerke
Summary: This study aimed to identify the factors controlling soil water dynamics in erosion-affected hillslope vineyard soils. The parameterization of soil hydraulic properties was found to be crucial in capturing the response of erosion-affected soil systems.
Article
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Haiyan Li, Yi Qu, Xingyu Zeng, Hongqiang Zhang, Ling Cui, Chunyu Luo
Summary: The research revealed that changes in land use in the Sanjiang Plain led to an increase in cultivated land area and a decrease in forest land, grassland, and unused land. Vegetation carbon density and storage increased during the study period, with forest land contributing the most. Climate change, as well as land use/cover change, directly impacted vegetation carbon storage, with forest carbon density being the key factor affecting the variation. Temperature was found to suppress vegetation carbon density, while precipitation promoted it.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jia Chen, Zhongwu Li, Haibing Xiao, Ke Ning, Chongjun Tang
Summary: The study found that bare land has the greatest impact on soil erosion, while cropland and grassland have the smallest impact. When vegetation coverage exceeds 60%, soil erosion tends to stabilize. Land use with multiple vegetation layers or contact cover can reduce runoff and sediment values.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Thomas Mumuni Bilintoh, Juwon Isaac Ishola, Adeline Akansobe
Summary: Urbanization has significant impacts on land cover and land surface temperature (LST). Understanding these impacts is crucial for effective urban planning, management, and monitoring. This study examines the relationship between changes in four land cover categories and LST in Abeokuta South, Nigeria during two time intervals: 1987-2004 and 2004-2021. The results show a transition of vegetation to bare land and infrastructure, and a transition of bare areas to infrastructure and vegetation. The analysis also reveals that the intensity of vegetation loss, infrastructure gain, and bare land occurrence is higher at segments with increased LST values, while vegetation gain, infrastructure, and bare land loss are more intense at segments with decreased LST values.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marco Morabito, Alfonso Crisci, Giulia Guerri, Alessandro Messeri, Luca Congedo, Michele Munafo
Summary: This study investigated the summer daytime surface urban heat island phenomenon in 10 Italian peninsular metropolitan cities, finding that impervious and tree cover surfaces play a key role. The most intense heat island effects were observed in inland cities, with a mitigating effect of the sea on coastal cities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
S. Julich, M-A Moorcroft, K. H. Feger, J. J. van Tol
Summary: This study investigates the impact of overgrazing on water resources in a semi-arid catchment in South Africa using the SWAT+ model. The findings suggest that overgrazing may have negative effects on the local subbasin scale, resulting in increased surface runoff and evaporation. Additionally, the study identifies shallow soils, soils with low surface infiltration capacities, and hydromorphic soils as vulnerable to adverse effects from overgrazing.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Felicia O. Akinyemi
Summary: The study utilized remote sensing and Geographic Information System techniques to assess and map drought evolution in 17 constituencies of the Central District of Botswana. Results showed that the growing seasons of 2002-2003, 2003-2004, and 2015-2016 were the most drought-stricken in the entire time series, coinciding with the El Nino southern oscillation (ENSO).
Article
Environmental Sciences
Federica D'Alo, Inaki Odriozola, Petr Baldrian, Laura Zucconi, Caterina Ripa, Nicoletta Cannone, Francesco Malfasi, Lisa Brancaleoni, Silvano Onofri
Summary: Soil enzymatic activity was assessed in two sites at different elevations in the Stelvio Pass area to study the effects of climate change. The study found that subalpine soils had higher microbial activity and certain physicochemical properties compared to alpine soils, while short-term warming effects had less significant impacts on enzymatic activities than vegetation shift caused by warming-induced upwards movement.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xiaoqiang Yang, Michael Rode, Seifeddine Jomaa, Ines Merbach, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Chris Soulsby, Dietrich Borchardt
Summary: Diffuse nitrogen pollution from agriculture exerts high pressures on groundwater and aquatic ecosystems. Integrated analysis and targeted measures based on interdisciplinary data and methods can help mitigate the impacts of this pollution, especially under the cumulative effects of changing climate and fertilizer-use intensities.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Water Resources
Aaron Smith, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Marco Maneta, Chris Soulsby
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Songjun Wu, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Xiaoqiang Yang, Chris Soulsby
Summary: This study applied a grid-based model to simulate the dynamics of nitrate in a catchment near Berlin. The results showed that landscape characteristics, hydroclimatic variability, vegetation cover, and fertilizer inputs were the main controlling factors of spatial and temporal patterns of water and nitrate fluxes. Wetness condition and denitrification also played important roles in nitrate dynamics. The restoration of riparian wetlands had a modest impact on reducing nitrate export. The model mHM-Nitrate provided reliable simulations and differentiated the key controlling factors, contributing to evidence-based management practices under climate change.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Jamie Lee Stevenson, Josie Geris, Christian Birkel, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Chris Soulsby
Summary: Stable water isotopes are important tools in studying catchment functioning and are widely used in experimental catchments. However, high-frequency data collection is costly and not suitable for decision makers who need to understand the functioning of multiple catchments. Instead, reconnaissance style surveys provide a feasible alternative approach.
ISOTOPES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Josie Geris, Jean-Christophe Comte, Fulvio Franchi, Alfred K. Petros, Sithabile Tirivarombo, Ame T. Selepeng, Karen G. Villholth
Summary: Extreme rainfall events have both positive and negative impacts on water resources in vulnerable areas. This study collected various data to analyze the effects of extreme rainfall and flooding on water quantity and quality dynamics, with a focus on contaminant movement.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
Jessica Fennell, Chris Soulsby, Mark E. Wilkinson, Ronald Daalmans, Josie Geris
Summary: Water resources management during drought is a global challenge, especially for upland areas. Nature Based Solutions (NBS) such as Runoff Attenuation Features (RAFs) could offer an alternative to traditional hard-engineering. This study used models to evaluate different scenarios with RAFs and found that they can enhance water availability during drought periods.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Martyn T. Roberts, Josie Geris, Paul D. Hallett, Mark E. Wilkinson
Summary: Temporary storage areas (TSAs) are nature-based solutions that can store and attenuate surface runoff, providing additional storage during flood events in a catchment. The implementation of small-scale TSAs in headwater catchments is gaining momentum, but further evidence is needed on their effectiveness during flood events. This review examines the role of small-scale TSAs in flood risk management and explores their potential benefits in integrated catchment management. Factors influencing TSA functioning and effectiveness are discussed, along with considerations for future design and management.
WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-WATER
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Emma Hayes, Suzanne Higgins, Josie Geris, Donal Mullan
Summary: Long-term phosphorus accumulation in agricultural soils is a challenge for water quality improvement. Improved management strategies are needed to reduce excess agricultural phosphorus sources. While reseeding and inversion tillage are essential agricultural practices, there are potential trade-offs in terms of nutrient and sediment losses. LiDAR-based image analysis can help quantify these risks.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Emma Hayes, Suzanne Higgins, Josie Geris, Gillian Nicholl, Donal Mullan
Summary: This study developed and evaluated a weighted risk assessment model to improve the classification of phosphorus transfer risk at a sub-field scale. Results showed that traditional bulked sampling failed to consider the spatial variability of soil phosphorus content at the subfield scale, while higher intensity gridded sampling and interpolation revealed wide in-field variability, aiding in the characterization of risk for nutrient losses to waterways.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Hongxiu Wang, Han Li, Wei Xiang, Yanwei Lu, Huanhuan Wang, Wei Hu, Bingcheng Si, Scott Jasechko, Jeffrey J. McDonnell
Summary: In this study, a 98 m soil core from the Loess Plateau of China was sampled and the relationship between pore water isotopic values and hydroclimate history was examined. The results showed that the δO-18 and δH-2 values between 14-50 m were anomalously low, corresponding well to the Little Ice Age period from 1420 to 1870. This identification was consistent with other standard proxies in the region and revealed the temporal dynamics of temperature anomalies. The study highlights the potential of stable isotopes of soil water for paleoclimate reconstruction in deep soils.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Paolo Nasta, Diego Todini-Zicavo, Giulia Zuecco, Chiara Marchina, Daniele Penna, Jeffrey J. McDonnell, Anam Amin, Carolina Allocca, Fabio Marzaioli, Luisa Stellato, Marco Borga, Nunzio Romano
Summary: An isotope-enabled module of Hydrus-1D was used to trace the origin and transit time of irrigation water in a glasshouse experiment with a potted olive tree. The soil hydraulic parameters were optimized through inverse modelling, and the model's performance was validated with observed sap flow z-scores and xylem water O-18. The study found that on average, 26% of irrigation water was removed by plant transpiration with a mean transit time of 94 hours, suggesting transit time as a functional indicator for irrigation water uptake in agricultural ecosystems.
HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
E. Hayes, S. Higgins, D. Mullan, J. Geris
Summary: Agriculture is a major contributor to poor water quality, but the sources of sediment and nutrient losses from agricultural catchments, including riverbank erosion, are highly variable. In this study, a quick assessment approach was developed to quantify riverbank erosion rates and associated sediment and nutrient loading rates using airborne LiDAR and field-collected data. The results showed spatial and temporal variability in the erosion rates and their relationships to water quality in the Blackwater catchment in Northern Ireland. The use of LiDAR combined with field data proved to be an innovative means for riverbank erosion quantification.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eva Loerke, Ina Pohle, Mark E. Wilkinson, Mike Rivington, Douglas Wardell -Johnson, Josie Geris
Summary: Climate change directly and indirectly affects stream temperature. Historic trends and factors influencing these trends need to be understood in order to project future changes in stream temperature. This study presents a methodology to reconstruct a national long-term daily stream temperature record from once-a-month observations using climatic and hydrological variables and regional climate projections.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Aaron Smith, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Jessica Landgraf, Maren Dubbert, Chris Soulsby
Summary: The study investigates the water, energy, and biomass dynamics of soil and plants under willow trees in Berlin, Germany using stable water isotopes. The results show that willow trees have high water use through evapotranspiration, while grass has lower evapotranspiration. The use of in situ data aids in improving the model's capability to simulate xylem water sources and transport. The study is important for understanding water cycling in the critical zone.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jessica Landgraf, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Maren Dubbert, David Dubbert, Aaron Smith, Chris Soulsby
Summary: Root water uptake is a crucial process, but its spatial and temporal dynamics are still poorly understood. This study used continuous in situ monitoring of stable water isotopes to investigate the sources of root water uptake. The results showed that 90% of root water uptake was derived from the upper soil, especially during wet periods. However, the isotopic composition of xylem water was not comparable to that of soil water, suggesting a limited role in root water uptake.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2022)
